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           A Palm Sunday Reflection for 2023

By Rev. Elder Carolyn J. Mobley-Bowie

Theme: Vulnerable Together

Scripture Focus: Psalm 118:25-29 And Matthew 21:5-11

My name is Rev. Elder Carolyn Mobley-Bowie and I live in Saginaw, Michigan, USA but I bring you Greetings from the entire Council of Elders and our Moderator, the Rev. Elder Cecilia Eggleston. I hope that you will hear my Reflections today as a prayer and a call to prayer.

Why are so many of us afraid of the word “vulnerable” or of the idea of “vulnerability”? We are actually afraid to experience what the word means, or what we think it means. So what is the meaning of vulnerable? The dictionary meaning or definition says: “capable of being physically or emotionally wounded” - - “open to attack or danger” - - “assailable” – the Latin root word means “to wound.”

These definitions make many people believe that being vulnerable is being in a position where other people can hurt you—often through physical or verbal attacks. It is seen as a position of weakness. This kind of thinking would lead anyone to believe that being vulnerable is a really bad thing – a thing to be avoided at all costs.

However, if we stop and think it through on a deeper level, we might begin to see and think about vulnerability in a very different way. Instead of seeing it as a sigh of weakness, we might begin to understand it as a very real strength. In truth, it takes genuine courage to be vulnerable. 

 We become more resilient and even more brave when we allow ourselves to embrace who we truly are and how we really feel and then choose to share our truth with others. We can readily see how this works for us as individuals, but it also works for us in groups. Thus, our theme: Vulnerable Together.

In our Gospel story of that first Palm Sunday, we can see how Jesus’ decision to embrace his full identity and to share his truth with others opened him up to receive both acceptance and rejection; praise and accusation; by some in the crowd. He became vulnerable to the shouts of “Hosanna” and the jeers of “crucify” from the same crowd.

By believing in Jesus, his followers also became liable to the crowd’s praise and persecution. Jesus and his disciples (and the larger group of followers) were “Vulnerable Together.” Standing with Jesus, marching into Jerusalem with Him increased their boldness; it made them strong enough to continue speaking up for Him long after He was gone.

Our history as Metropolitan Community Churches – as out and proud believers and followers of Christ – is a modern lesson in vulnerability. Our faith in Christ has made us strong together. Proclaiming the truth our Creator’s all inclusive love and acceptance, has put us on the front line of attacks from some parts of the church and the world. Yet we have stood together, thus giving many others the courage to “come out” of life-destroying closets and begin to walk boldly in the light of Divine Love.

As we continue to embrace our vulnerability, we are growing in resilience and faith, knowing that we are never alone—we have each other and our Loving Savior, leading the procession in our Pride Parades and our Palm Sunday celebrations all around the world. May we always remember the words to the closing song used at our recent Prayer Vigils for Social Justice – “We are walking in the Light of God,” as we stay Vulnerable Together.